Would you take style cues from a five-year-old boy? When he’s as put-together and dapper as Alonso Mateo, it’s hard not to take notes. With more than 22,000 Instagram followers, five fan accounts dedicated to his style and fans outside his house asking to take his picture, Alonso may be the youngest fashion icon yet.

It all started when his mom, Luisa Fernanda Espinosa — a freelance stylist who has contributed to Harper’s Bazaar Mexico and Latin America — started posting pics of Alonso on her Instagram account last year (@luisafere, which boasts over 133,000 followers and she has recently set to private). Every morning before school, she helps her son pick out outfits in his personal walk-in closet, though he’s the chief stylist. “I’ll help him coordinate outfits so that they make sense, but mostly it’s him,” she recently told The Cut. Luisa adores Opening Ceremony and can’t live without her Alexander Wang T-shirts, so we can only imagine how delighted she is to share her passion with the little one: There are plenty of pics of them happily posing together on Instagram.

Alonso and his family — which also includes his dad, the owner and CEO of a private equity firm — have lived in Laguna Beach, Calif., for two years, where they moved from Monterrey, Mexico. By all accounts, mom and dad haven’t let the adoration go to Alonso’s head: While he seems to like taking “selfies” and there’s a sense of fun around his pics, he also tends to get shy in front of fans, like any five-year-old would. And Luisa’s not quite sure whether Alonso’s got the fashion world figured out yet: “I don’t think he really notices he’s fashion forward. He’s too young.”

Alonso was “discovered” by celebrity stylist Ugo Mozie last year, when he tweeted “Style icon. Get familiar and take notes” along with pictures of Alonso decked out in Tom Ford, Gucci and AllSaints. “What first caught my eye about him was his confidence,” Mozie told The Cut. “His clothes were exceptionally tailored, drop-crotch pants, his hand in his pocket — that stood out to me.”

Please.... My kids have mad style and its not me ( well I do buy it and have laid down the law of NO Crocs) they get themselves dressed every morning and the only things I buy new is shoes, socks and undies!!!

he has 5 different name brand outfits at the of 5 with at least 4 pairs of shoes. Given the developmental rate of a child how long do these outfits last?

I don't have a kid, but I would get no more than 1.5 yrs.

The average income of an american household is a little over 50K - so do some math relative of the cost of each name brand item that only last for 1.5 years and it becomes an ridiculous ratio. I understand the father is a CEO, but a 5-yr old's wardrobe expense would be better suited for local charities of helping single mothers. The child can still development a sense of individualism without monetary ease. Look at the thrift store movement we see today.

How does a 5 yr old associate Gucci belt and Dior shoes with fashion? It is a learned behavior from parents, just like blue is for boys and pink is for girls. The child is an example of conigative psychology that Noam Chomsky discusses.

Instead, your child is copying the fathers behavior as the article states. And instead of dressing your child as a "young CEO" why don't you address developing his skills to become a "young CEO" and nuture the sames skills the father to that position.

Although he make look adorable, how many languages does he speak? Can he add fractions? At what grade level does he read at? This is what america should focus on, not on what the hell he is wearing.

I agree with noresbo, although it may be for slightly different reasons.

It's true, I find the phenomenon disturbing. To clarify, it isn't because the little boy is having his pictures taken while looking absolutely adorable, nor is it because he is sharing a hobby/activity he seems to enjoy. That said, however, I find it I

inappropriate for a five-year-old to have a "fan base." He is a little boy, and he deserves a wholesome childhood—one with lessons, failure, and a reasonable amount of admiration, attention and love. What disturbs me is the overwhelming possibility of a negative outcome and lack of skill acquisition due to all the attention. He hasn't technically earned all the fame and praise he is receiving, but it was given to him because his parents love him. If he doesn't learn that attention and admiration needs to be earned, and is not simply given away, he won't be able to function later on in his life. What they are making of this child is not a style icon, but a child celebrity. And I think we know quite well what happens to child celebrities.

Yes, he is adorable. Yes, he clearly has a drive. Yes, he seems to have a knack for style. But it doesn't mean that he is an adult. It doesn't mean that he should be deprived of a healthy childhood. And a huge fan base does not constitute for a healthy childhood by any means.

@kemc2k61@Mesropj its still disturbing because this sort of lifestyle that his parents have created for him lead to becoming a celebrity star, someone who receives massive amounts of undeserved and unnecessary adulation. Its already sad that America is so deeply interested in the lives of adult celebrities who really havent achieved much but now that they are following children with the same kind of zeal is absolutely inane. I do agree with Mesropj that his childhood will be much different and much less fulfilling than most. Its great he has a sense of style but the attention is dangerous to say the least.

@Mesropj "celebrity star"? he doesn't compare, now a hollywood celebrity star is different, he probably has time to do kids stuff, hollywood kid actors don't, their time is consumed by acting, your point is irrelevant.